Method of and apparatus for automatically splitting or cleaving slate blocks



Jan. 3, 1928.

H. G. WILLIAMS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SPLITTING ORCLEAVING SLATE BLOCKS Filed Jan. 21. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorney Jan.3, v1928.

. H. G. WILLIAMS' Y METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SPLITTING0R CLEAVING SLATE BLOCKS Filed Jan. 21. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 agmwa I II I l I I I I I l I I l I I s l I I .J I I I .L

y bZ/M//z q Attorney Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED sfra=1'11;. g,

HUGI-IzG. WILLIAMS, 0F GRANVILLE, NEW YORK.

METHOD or vAnn APPARATUS Fon AUTOMATICALLY sPLITTING von GLEAVINGisLA'rn BLOCKS. i

Application filed January 21, 1926. SerialzNo. 82,714. I

This invention relates broadly tov a method of automatically splittingor cleaving slate blocks, together with certainmechanism employed incarrying yout the method, the primary object. residing inl such a methodand such a mechanism wherein slate blocks may be accurately cleaved orsplit other than by medium of the hand chisel which is the only` methodknown at this time,

,A Vfurther object is to provide a method and means for use in carryingout thesamc for permitting of the use of a power driven chiselYforaccomplishing the splitting or cleaving operation which isabsolutely an impossible expedient in so far as VI ram aware. i

An additional object resides in a method and 4mechanism forvyuse incarrying out the method wherein blocks may be cleaved`r or split to aplurality vof slate slabs in a much more expeditious manner thanis nowpossible. .l

A final salient object is to provide mechanism for use in Carrying outthe method that is of relatively simple construction, and easy ofmanipulation, thus pern'iittiiig the method to be carried out byAordinarily skilled stone workers.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view as the nature of theinvention will be better understood. my'method comprises the novel stepshereinafter more fully'pointed` out together 4with certain mechanismshown' in. the accoml'ianying drawing, hereinafter more fully describedand shown.

In the drawingsl wherein there is dis# closed one manner whereby thepresent method may be carried out:

Figure l is an end elevation of a slate block with which is associatedcertain mechanism for permitting the sameto be' split or cleaved by apower driven impact chisel, certain element of which in a power drivenchisel are old, while certain other elements thereof have been'perfectedin order that this method maybe carried out.

Figure 2 is a side'elevation thereof, the power driven chisel beingfragn'ientarily shown. l Figure 3 is a top plan view of the meansadapted to be frictionally disposed over the top side of a slate blockto be split or cleaved in order that this method may be carried out.

ycleawing operation.

Having yparticular reference to the draw- Figure et is an enlargedfragmentary section of one corner of said means. l

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective ot' 'one of the power driven chiselguide bars of the means. y i

' Figure 6 is a section through the connecting end 'of a conventionalform of power hammer and a particular form of chisel blade provided forthe proper carrying out of the method, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially upon theline 7 7 of Figure 6. i

Before describing vmy method and the means for use in carrying outA the"same, it may be well to herein state 4thatyup to the present time it hasbeen an impossibility to cleave or splitslate through the medium of apower driven chisel or other tool, mainly for the reason that it is aphysical injipossi bility to maintainthe cuttingedge of v the chisel ortool against transverse vibratory movement upon the face of the blockbeing split, thus making it a necessity to split yor cleave these slateblocks through .the medium of a hand Ychisel and impact deliveringmalletin the hands of yan unusually skilled stone worker. In my method, use ismade of a power driven splitting or cle'avingrchisel that is maintainedagainst rotation and transverse vibration during the splitting orA ing,A designates a conventional slate block that is to be split or cleavedinto a plurality "of slate slabs through reason of the present methodand mechanism for use in carrying vout the same.l y

In carrying out my method I provide a chisel guiding and bracing frame5, of sub-v stanti ally rectangular shape that is adapt-v edto bedisposed upon the upper edgeA of the blockto be operated upon. rlhisframe comprises a pair of-spaced relatively elongated parallel rods 6-6headed atene end as at 7 and threaded at their opposite ends as at 8,Figures l and 3. Pendent from the opposite ends of said rods arerect-angular shaped boards or plates 9 9 between which and freelyslidable uponsaid rods are longitudinally extending chisel guiding andbracing bars 10 of flat-like material that are maintained in spacedrelation through the medium of washers ll, encircling the rods, Aandbeing removable and interchangeable with other washers of in creased ordiminished thickness for regulating the thickness of the slate slabsproduced from the block A.

Encircling the rods 6 6 between the boards 9-9 and the adjacent crossbars are relatively strong eXpansible helical springs 12 that serve tomaintain the bars 10 and washers 11 in close contact, but permitting ofthe sliding of the same upon the bars when the power driven cleaving orsplitting chisel is inserted between adjacent predetermined ones of thebars, and for also maintaining predetermined ones of the bars in tightengagement with the opposite faces of the spring or cleaving chisel forpreventing` transverse vibrations of the same. l

As previously mentioned, the frame 5 is adapted to be disposed over thetop side of the block A in the manner as clearly shown in Figure 1, andin order thatl this frame will be maintained in friCtio'nal engagementwith the block I provide arcuate shaped leaf springs 13 secured at theirupper .ends to the boards 9 9 adjacent the outer edges thereof forcontacting the opposite sides of said block as clearly shown also inFigure 1. The lower ends ofthese springs Contact the boards 9-9 forpreventing the outward bending of the same which would otherwise reducetheir block securing power. Y

The frame just described permits the use of a power driven chisel in thesplitting or cleaving of the block which in this instance constitutesVthe provision of a generally conventional type of blade 14 associatedwith an air or steam cylinder 15 of a conventionalv type of impacthammer within which is the usual impact 'delivering plunger or bullet.In the use of such power driven splitting chisel it is' necessary that aconnection be provided between the cylinder and blade 15 and 14respectively in order that said blade will not rotate during operationthereof. To this end, the blade 14 is formed at its upper end with aiiatshank 16, the upper end of which is rounded as at 17 for engagementwithin the usual externally threaded circular neck 18 upon the lower endof the cylinder 15.

Directly beneath the rounded portion 17 of the shank is a cross tang 19,and in order that theblade may be slidably but non-rotatably Connectedto the neck 18 of the cylinder, there is provided an internally threadedthirnble 20 for threaded engagementr upon said neck, the bottom" wall ofwhich is formed with a circular opening 21 at diametrically opposed.points of which are notches 22-22 for permitting the tang 19 of theshank 16 to be passed therethrough. The inner face of the bottom wall ofsaid thimble is formed with cross slots 28-[23 between the notches 22-22for receiving the ends of the tang after the shank has been passedthrough the opening and then given a quarter turn,

The upper end of the cylinder 15 is adapted to have communication with asource of compressed air or steam supply through rea-` son of a quickacting thumb control valve 24 of conventional construction. l i l Itwill thus be seen that I have provided highly novel and eliicientmechanism wherein slate blocks Vmay be split .or cleaved through amethod of applying a power driven chisel to the surface of the block andthen operating the same without the consequent rotation of the blade aswell as the transverse vibrations thereof, resulting in a clean splitand for permitting the block to be split or cleaved into slabs ofdesired vthickness in an expeditious manner. f

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure'by Letters vpatent is l C l. In a structure of the classdescribed, a multiplicity of bars adapted to be disposed across thetopsurface of a slate block, and a supporting and retaining frame structureupon which said bars are mounted, said frame including yieldable b-lockvengaging springs for frictionally holding the frame upon the block.

2. In a structure ofv the class described,

a pair of plates adapted lfor vertical disposition, horizontallydisposed rods connectingy said plates together' in spaced relation, aplurality of guide bars supported upon said rods for sliding movement,means for 1naintaining the bars in spaced parallelism also carried bysaid rods, springs surrounding the end portions of the rods and bearingagainst the plates, land bowed springs car ried by said plates andadapted to press against the block.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HUGH G. WILLIAMS.

